Today’s magnificent oak is a testament to the hardiness and endurance of yesterday’s seed. In times of trouble, distress, or uneasiness we learn to hold on and to seek refuge in God. Just like the oak, it is through the winds and storms that we grow stronger. These are the times when we must let our roots grow deep in God’s Word to provide both stability and spiritual nourishment. And so, the modern version of this Bible verse rings true: “Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards” (Hebrews 10:35 CEV). So whatever you do, don’t give up, as is graphically illustrated in the following poem, with a touch of humor to encourage us to endure.
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must—but don’t you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow— You might succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out— The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar. So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit— It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.
Edgar A. Guest (published in 1921)
As you have probably guessed, this edition of Activated focuses on how to find strength and comfort in times of trial, grief and adversity. In this issue, you will find articles that can offer a beacon of hope in dark times and help provide an encouraging outlook. To prepare for Easter coming up in early April, Peter Amsterdam presents a detailed account of the greatest event in history, when Christ defeated death through His resurrection. Welcome to the March issue of Activated. May it bring you strength and peace and help you face the future with faith.
Gabriel and Sally García
Activated Editorial
Team
For more information on Activated , visit our website or write to us.
Have you ever walked by a lake that was so still you could see the reflection of the surrounding mountains and trees on its surface? It’s one of the most beautiful and peaceful sights. It takes my breath away to see all that beauty mirrored in the water.
“He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:2–3).
It often restores our souls to see God’s creation. It is a glimpse of His heart that helps us understand deeper spiritual truths. The lake, in its stillness, reflects heaven.
But in my life the waters are often turbulent. The waves help me get someplace. The ripples reach outward in all directions. The wind blows and I am moved and things get done.
I might search for still waters, but find forceful streams and raging currents instead. I can try to stop the tide, but find I have to run to higher ground.
Like the disciples in the boat with Jesus in the midst of a Galilean storm, I panic. Then Jesus says simply, “Peace! Be still,” and even the winds and the seas obey Him, and it is still again. (See Mark 4:35–41.)
I need that time in the stillness before I am willing to face the next challenge, before I can understand why I need to go where He leads. Sometimes I go
into dark valleys that test my faith. Sometimes I have to face my enemies. But even in these difficult situations, with the Lord by my side, I feel like I am overflowing with His goodness and His love (Psalm 23:3–5).
The Lord is my shepherd. I don’t lack anything (Psalm 23:1). He helps me rest. He leads me by quiet waters and restores my soul. Then I am ready for anything. I have grace for dark places, for facing fear, for overcoming with gratitude. Because I have spent time by the still waters, things fall into perspective. Heaven is reflected in my life, and I know that, no matter what happens, I will be with the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).
“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.
What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!
Psalm 107:28–30 NLT
Joyce Suttin is a retired teacher and writer and lives in San Antonio, Texas. Check out her blog at joy4dailydevotionals.blogspot.com
HE IS RISEN INDEED!
By Peter Amsterdam
The approach of Easter is a wonderful time to review the accounts of Jesus’ resurrection and to meditate on the eternal redemption He obtained for us through His sacrificial death on the cross (Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12). When we reflect on Jesus’ glorious resurrection as our Lord and Savior, we can echo the ancient Christian greeting, “He is risen indeed!”
In each of the four Gospels we read an account of Jesus’ appearances to His disciples—both women and men—after His resurrection. In Matthew’s account, when some of the women disciples went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, they found the tomb empty. They were met by an angel who instructed them to go to the apostles and tell them that Jesus was alive and that He was going to Galilee, where they would see Him (Matthew 28:6–7).
As they ran to deliver this message to the disciples, the women were met on the road by the resurrected Jesus Himself.
“And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me’” (Matthew 28:9–10).
It’s hard to imagine the joy and wonderment they felt at seeing the risen Jesus. In falling at His feet and worshiping Him, they showed that they understood that He was more than a mere man—He is divine.
Luke’s gospel recounts Jesus’ appearance to two disciples, neither of whom was one of the eleven apostles, who were traveling that day to a village named Emmaus. As they walked and discussed all that had occurred, Jesus Himself drew near and spoke with them, though their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
“[Jesus] said to them, ‘What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?’ And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’” (Luke 24:17–18).
Cleopas was rather shocked at Jesus’ question. It was hard for him to believe that anyone coming from Jerusalem could not know what had happened over the past days, as Jesus’ trial and crucifixion were so public. When Jesus asked them to explain “what things” they were referring to, they responded by saying:
“Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened” (Luke 24:19–21).
Cleopas and the other disciple had believed in Jesus and had high hopes for Him and His ministry; however, after all that transpired with His arrest and crucifixion, they were disappointed. It had been three days since Jesus’ crucifixion—the three days He had predicted would occur prior to His resurrection (Luke 9:21–22; Matthew 20:17–19).
The two disciples then recounted to Jesus the circumstances of the women going to the tomb and finding that Jesus was not there:
“Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see” (Luke 24:22–24).
This account included the empty tomb, the appearance of the angels, and the message that Jesus was alive. However, these two men said that the disciples who had gone to the tomb found it empty; they did not see Jesus. Jesus responded by saying, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25–26).
Jesus made the point that the two disciples weren’t understanding what they should have known from Scripture—that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to come into His glory (Isaiah 53:5–7). “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Jesus went on to explain in detail what all of Scripture (the Old Testament) had to say about the promised Messiah.
Later, the disciples recognized Jesus as they shared a meal with Him, and He “took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him” (Luke 24:30–31).
Once they recognized Jesus, He vanished from their sight. Throughout the Gospels, we are told that Jesus appeared and disappeared among the believers after His resurrection. (See Luke 24:36; John 20:19.)
After Jesus disappeared, the two disciples exclaimed to one another, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?’” (Luke 24:32). They expressed with great emotion the effect that His presence and words had on them, and then reversed course and returned to Jerusalem
immediately to share the news with the apostles that they had seen Jesus.
But before they had a chance to give their account, they learned that Jesus had also appeared to Simon. “They found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!’” (Luke 24:33–35).
As they were all jubilantly discussing these two encounters with the risen Christ, “Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’” But the apostles and the others with them were surprised and scared, thinking that they had seen a spirit (Luke 24:36–37).
In order to calm them, Jesus instructed the disciples to look at His hands and feet, to see the wounds He bore from being crucified. He also instructed them to touch Him, as He wanted them to see that He had a body of flesh and bones and was not a disembodied spirit (Luke 24:38–40).
“While they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them” (Luke 24:41–43).
In asking for something to eat and sitting at the table with them for a meal, Jesus demonstrated that He wasn’t a ghost or some sort of apparition. He appeared to them,
spoke with them, and ate with them.
There was no question about His resurrection from death.
“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem’” (Luke 24:45–47).
Once the disciples’ minds were opened to understand the Scripture’s teaching about His death and resurrection, Jesus presented God’s plan: the message of repentance and forgiveness is to be proclaimed everywhere—to all nations. Jesus instructed them to begin their mission in Jerusalem, and then eventually to take the gospel to all the world.
Jesus went on to say, “You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48). The disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. They were commissioned to share their personal experience of the risen Christ. Their mission was to proclaim the message to all nations—as is the mission of His disciples today. As followers of Jesus, we, too, are all called to proclaim the gospel to everyone everywhere in the world (Mark 16:15). Let’s be faithful to share the good news that “He is risen indeed!”
Peter Amsterdam is a Christian author and Bible teacher, and retired co-director of TFI, a Christian online network. ■
Living Hope
By Uday Paul
I was thinking recently about death. I was curious to see what the Bible had to say about this and found some amazing things.
Death, it turns out, is the direct result of man’s disobedience to God. God created the first man and woman to live forever, but because of man’s fallen, sinful nature, death entered into the world. “Just as sin came into the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).
The good news is that Jesus Christ conquered death through His resurrection. The Bible calls Jesus’ resurrection the “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). Because Jesus was raised from the dead, there is the promise that others will be raised, too. This will occur at Jesus’ second coming, when everyone alive who has Jesus in their hearts will receive new, supernatural bodies, like Jesus’ at His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51–52).
To believers who have passed on before this event, Jesus promised that death would not be the end, but rather the threshold to a new life in the spirit. He said, “Because I live, you also will live” ( John 14:19). For Christians, death is like passing from one room into another. We are set free from the limitations of our physical bodies and liberated into the boundless world of the spirit.
Authors have documented thousands of cases of what are termed near-death experiences (NDE). These are experiences of people who died or were near death, perhaps following an accident or during a medical procedure, but then were revived, and later recalled that during the time when they were clinically dead or very close to death, they had a spiritual experience of heaven. They felt that they had entered another dimension where they were overwhelmed with the feeling of being loved by a being of light, which they identified as Jesus or God, and many also saw angels and departed loved ones. It was the most wonderful thing they had ever experienced and many of these near-death survivors recounted that they no longer feared death.
If we trust in Jesus, we have the assurance of entering into God’s eternal realm. There we will enjoy the splendors of heaven for all eternity, without any of the pain or problems we have now. “He will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Uday Paul is a freelance writer, volunteer, and teacher based in Uganda. ■
THE LIFEGIVING POWER OF JESUS
By Simon Bishop
I want to share a story that illustrates the life-giving and redemptive power of Jesus.
In the seminars I teach to graduating students, I always invite them to pray with me to ask Jesus to come into their lives and be with them forever. I explain to them that although this is an important prayer, it is not the words themselves but rather the belief and sincerity of our hearts that make the difference. I then share with them the story of my father, which helps to illustrate this.
When my mom was pregnant with me, my parents’ relationship was falling apart. This was my dad’s second marriage, and he had become a drug addict with a criminal record. He owned a fishing boat and would fish for salmon and tuna during fishing season, and off season he worked as a mechanic, day laborer, and petty criminal to support his drug habit. He sold drugs and was injecting heroin on a regular basis. He would wake up in jail almost weekly, after having been involved in bar fights that he had no memory of since he had been so drunk. He was desperately unhappy and confused. He concluded that the only way to be happy was to always be high on drugs, but he often didn’t have enough money to support the
habit. So, he hatched a plan to rob a bank. He figured that if he got away with it, he would have enough money to take all the drugs he wanted until he died, or if caught, he would shoot it out with the police until he was killed. Basically, it was a plan to end his life quite quickly one way or another. The hitch to this plan was that he didn’t own a handgun and couldn’t buy one because of his criminal record, so he headed out to look for someone to sell him a gun illegally.
While walking downtown, he met a young woman, and since she was attractive, he decided to talk to her. She started telling him about Jesus, which was the last thing he wanted to hear. He told her that he had grown up in a religious family; his father would act like a good Christian on Sunday, but then abuse his family, and live the opposite of his supposed beliefs all week. The young woman explained that she wasn’t talking about religion or church, she was talking about having an experience with Jesus that could change his life. She asked him to pray with her to receive Jesus. My dad was too proud and stubborn to pray with her there, but he promised he would think about it.
After having been unsuccessful in obtaining a gun, he went home and thought about his encounter with the woman, and then he prayed something like this: “God, I don’t even believe You exist, but if You do, I need help. And if You’re real, I need You to change my life, as I’m at the end of my rope.”
From that day forward, his life started to change. He no longer had any desire to take drugs, and a week later when someone offered him drugs, he realized he didn’t need them as he already felt happy. He stopped drinking and began reading the Bible. My mom, although skeptical at first, saw that his change was genuine and they stayed together. Not long after, they dedicated their lives to Jesus and began training to be missionaries.
I am thankful for how God worked in my father’s life. I’ve often reflected on how this experience likely saved me as well from a very negative trajectory in life, and helped me to eventually dedicate my life to Jesus and to helping those in need.
I tell the teenagers that I teach: “Jesus has the power to change your lives today, and to help you in whatever situation you may find yourselves in in the future.” It’s not about how we present ourselves to God, He just wants us to come to Him. Jesus said in John 6:37, “Whoever comes to me I will
If you have not yet received Jesus as your Savior, you can do so by praying the following prayer:
Dear Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God and that You died on the cross for me so that, through Your sacrifice, I can live forever with You in heaven. I ask that You forgive my sins. I open the door of my heart to You. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me live in a way that glorifies You. Guide my life and help me to follow You. In Your name I pray. Amen.
never cast out.” And Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” If we call out with sincerity, Jesus is there for us.
Let’s remember that Jesus not only died and rose again so that we could have a place with Him in heaven, but also so that while we are here on earth, He can change our lives for the better, walk with us through every challenge we face, and be our Savior each and every day.
Simon Bishop does full-time mission and humanitarian work in the Philippines. ■
AND THEN … THE SEVENTH DAY
By Koos Stenger
“He is born. The baby is born!”
Oh, what joy we felt! The delivery had gone well and without complications. We were on our way home to enjoy life. I smiled at my wife and she smiled back. Heaven had come down.
This was the day.
I got the call while I was away on a trip. Our son was three now and I wasn’t prepared for the news.
“You’ve got to come home right away. Our son is sick.”
“What’s wrong? Why do I have to come back? Doesn’t the doctor have a treatment?”
“You don’t understand.” My wife was at the end of her rope. “He has leukemia.”
This was the night.
Months in the hospital. Months of doctors, needles, medication, and stress. Willing nurses and unwilling
nurses. Eating on the run. Prayers and worries, friends and kindness. And then the doctor finally said those wonderful words: “He’s healed. The leukemia is gone.”
I smiled at my wife and she smiled back. Heaven had come down again.
This was the day.
Our son was seven years old when we moved to Botswana, a faraway land with golden opportunities for our mission work. How happy we were to leave Europe, to leave leukemia behind, to give our son a new start. It was going to be wonderful. Of that, we were sure…
But why was he so pale again? Why was he so tired, so very tired?
And then we knew. The doctor confirmed it. The leukemia was back.
This was the night
We can cling desperately—even through tears—to the assurance that God knows, he cares, and he loves us with an infinite love. We can lay our burdens at the feet of Christ and receive what he offers instead.—Sarah J. Hauser
Faith is unseen but felt, faith is strength when we feel we have none, faith is hope when all seems lost.— Catherine Pulsifer
The answer to our fears is faith—real, fear-shrinking faith—in the God who loves us and gave himself for us.—Jani Ortlund
What are African hospitals like? They are fearsome. They are confusing, dark, hot, and dirty. Cockroaches? Yes, many right there in the examining room. But the hands were kind and friendly, and so was God.
And then, after six months the doctor smiled and we heard those wonderful words again: “He’s healed. The leukemia is gone.”
I smiled at my wife and she smiled back.
This was the day
Our son had grown. He was 10 already. Had he forgotten leukemia? Of course not, and neither had we. That’s why we knew it right away when we saw the first signs.
“No, God … no! Not again!” How do you tell your son that the leukemia is back for a third time?
We sighed, we prayed, and we cried. “God, we will not doubt. You are loving and You are good. We trust in You.” But we didn’t smile.
This was the night.
You probably can guess the story by now. Yes, it was back to the fight. We had now memorized the difficult names of the medications. We knew when he would vomit. We learned to be stern to doctors who refused to wash their hands before entering the examining room. We loved most of the nurses and disliked a few. We made friends and we prayed.
Then the doctor said that only a bone marrow transplant could heal him this time. Where do you get a match? Impossible?
Not so. God knew. He pointed to our youngest son. He was a match.
I smiled at my wife and she smiled back.
This was the day.
And the next night?
In this case, it didn’t come. The bone marrow transplant was successful. We danced and rejoiced, not only because our son had been healed, but because God is good. He is always good.—In the day, but also in the night. Maybe especially in the dark.
Since then, many other nights have shrouded our lives. But they’ve always ended. Night always gives way to day again. Some nights seem longer than others, but that goes for the days, too. The cycle is always there.
The day and the night, God made them both in the beginning. He created the world in six days and then He rested on the seventh. (See Genesis 1–2:4.)
But soon the cycle will stop. Soon we will all rest with Him. Soon we will join Him in heaven when our earthly bodies give way to the heavenly. Then our days and nights will be over. Forever we will be with the Lord where there is no more pain, and all tears will be wiped from our eyes (Revelation 21:4).
Soon, on the seventh day…
Koos Stenger is a freelance writer in the Netherlands. ■
FINDING PEACE AFTER LOSS
By Rosane Cordoba
Life is often a struggle, and though there are seasons of happiness, there are also seasons of uncertainty and pain.
My husband died suddenly at age 42. I was 37 years old and had seven children to raise, ranging in age from eight months to 13 years. The pain and confusion I felt were overwhelming. It was only my faith in God and my desire to not fail my kids that kept me going.
While traveling to Argentina for the burial of my husband in his hometown, I sat beside an older woman. We struck up a conversation, and I shared my story. She told me that her son had passed away of a heart attack while celebrating with friends when Argentina won the World Cup. Then she held my hand and we both shed tears. It was a sacred moment, when two strangers were melted together by sorrow. Somehow, the tears brought comfort to our hearts.
At the Buenos Aires airport, another lady asked me what brought me to Argentina, and upon hearing my answer, she prayed for me, saying, “Don’t worry. Jesus will be by your side helping you always, and everything will work out.” (Those words stayed with me for many years.)
A few days later, I read an Asian anecdote about a woman who had lost a loved one. She went to complain
to the Sultan that he wasn’t taking care of her as he should. He told her she was to go on a journey around the country. She was to stay each day in a different home and listen to their stories. She found that every family had sorrow, and she realized that she was not alone in her grief, and that even in her sorrow she could comfort others. This story rang true to me in my time of grief.
Eventually, my sorrow faded, but the happy memories remained. I am thankful for the years of joy that God gave me with my dear husband. I realize now that one of the things that we most need in life is peace. Peace to face each difficulty knowing that God is with us. Peace to take things to Him in prayer and trust that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
As Paul said in Philippians 4:6–7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Rosane Cordoba lives in Brazil. She is a freelance writer, translator, and producer of faith-based and character-building children’s material. ■
Recently enough that it still feels fresh, our area was hit with unprecedented flash flooding that took the lives, livelihood, and homes of many. Communities reeled at their losses, families grappled with lost or missing loved ones who were washed away, and the rain kept coming!
At first the news was from the areas hardest hit that were several hours away from us. State and Federal government, and local churches and aid agencies rushed in. Then came the news that a long-term care home for severely disabled children and adults in our area had flooded. One of the staff had been swept away in a surge. The residents had been rescued by a military operation.
So many came together that the work that would have taken weeks or months was completed in just a few days. The residents moved back in, and the staff was helping them settle after that trauma. I spoke to the directors of the organization, who told me that they were so impressed with how the community showed up for them.
OUR DISASTER
By Marie Alvero
Our local community rallied immediately, providing supplies, funds, and other needed support. All the residents of the home were displaced, which was doubly traumatic as none of the residents could understand what had happened. Their pain became the pain of our community. We needed to get their home back up and running immediately!
I will never forget pulling up to the location to see literally hundreds of volunteers who came to help from our small town. We cleaned, cleared, sorted, and repaired for hours, all united around this crisis.
I’m truly grateful that we were all able to make a difference for these dear ones affected by the flooding, but my bigger takeaway is how beautiful it is when we all come together. Our community was charged with unity, goodwill, and a reminder of how much we have in common, regardless of the things that are used to highlight our differences, such as politics, religion, and race. No one wishes disaster
on anyone, but there is something to be said for the clarity a disaster can bring. We no longer care about the trivial things that take precedence when everything is peachy. I pray that this event will always be a reminder to me and our community of our ability to come together and rise above the issues that seem to divide us in less challenging times.
Marie Alvero is a former missionary to Africa and Mexico. She currently lives a happy, busy life with her husband and children in Central Texas, USA. ■
Answers To Your Questions
ALLEVIATING WORRY
Q: Sometimes I feel like I’m being overcome with worries. What can I do to stop worrying so much?
A: Who doesn’t worry sometimes? We worry about what’s going to happen in the world. We worry about failing in school or in our work. We worry that we won’t be able to make ends meet financially. We worry about how we’re going to make up for mistakes we’ve made or opportunities we missed. We worry about our future. We worry about losing the ones we love. We worry about so many things!
Most worries come down to one of two things: fretting about past failures and situations gone wrong, or fearing the future.
How can we keep those worries from affecting us? One good answer can be found in an unexpected place—the modern ocean liner. Ocean liners are constructed with fireproof, watertight steel doors that, in the event of fire or serious leakage, can seal off the damaged compartment and contain the problem so the ship can stay afloat.
So should it be in the “ship” of our lives. In order to make the most of today and to best prepare for the future, we have to learn to seal ourselves off from worries about yesterday with its mistakes and failures, as well as from overblown concerns about tomorrow. Otherwise our worries may flood us and drag us under.
Have you ever noticed that it’s often the things that never happen that seem to worry us the most? One businessman drew up what he called a “worry chart,” where he kept a record of his fears. He discovered that 40% of them were about things that probably would never happen, 30% concerned past decisions that he could not change, 12% had to do with other people’s criticism of him, and 10% were unfounded worries about his health. He concluded that there were valid reasons for only 8% of his worries.
Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but it never gets you anywhere. —Author unknown
When we present our fears and worries to Jesus, He fills us with His peace. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).
The famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody (1837–1899) said, “You can travel first class or second class to heaven. Second class is, ‘What time I am afraid, I will trust’ (Psalm 56:3 KJV), and first class is, ‘I will trust, and not be afraid’ (Isaiah 12:2 KJV, emphasis added). So why not travel on a first-class ticket?” ■
GOD’S UNSEEN PROTECTION
By Amy Joy Mizrany
One Sunday morning, we were preparing to head out the door for a weekly Sunday school class we host in a very poor and underprivileged area on the outskirts of our city.
As we began packing things into the car, my brother said, “I don’t feel good about going.”
We were surprised. It was out of character for him to want to stay home.
“Are you feeling sick?”
“No, I mean that I don’t have a good feeling about going to Sunday school today. Like something’s not right.”
Then I remembered. “That’s really weird, I had a dream last night that we were at Sunday school and something awful happened.”
We prayed about it, and felt the Lord leading us to not go to Sunday school that week. Disappointed, but at peace, we unpacked the car and stayed home.
The following week, as we pulled up to the building where we host the Sunday school, we saw the unmistakable signs of rioting—black scorch marks of burnt tires, shattered glass everywhere, and barbed wire. A grisly armed security guard strolled by with a petrol bomb swinging in his fingers.
We quickly gathered the children and went into the compound for Sunday school. We asked one of the older boys what was going on. His eyes were wide as he said,
“People were trying to build houses over there, but they’re not allowed to, so last Sunday they were rioting. The government had to call security to control them.” None of the kids had been allowed near there when that was happening, and thankfully they were all safe.
We were so grateful we had heeded the Lord’s leading. There is such peace in following the Lord, and trying your best to go when and where He shows you to go. He takes good care of us; this has been proven to me many times. But I couldn’t count all the ways the Lord has protected me, because I probably don’t even know about half of them! My dad used to sing a song that says:
God only knows the times my life was threatened just today.
A reckless car ran out of gas before it came my way. Near misses all around me, accidents unknown, And I never see with human eyes the hands that lead me home.
We can never take for granted the Lord’s wonderful protection. We may never know all He does to keep us safe, but we know we are in His hands and that’s the best security in the world.
Amy Joy Mizrany is a full-time missionary in South Africa with Helping Hand. In her spare time, she teaches the violin. ■
From Jesus with Love
Grace for Today, Tomorrow, and the Future
It is human nature to worry about the future at times. You cannot know the future, but you can trust that I know the future and the plans I have for your life, which will always work together for your good because of your love for Me (Romans 8:28). You may not have the grace now to meet an unknown future, but you can trust that you will have what you need when the time comes. So, if you are concerned or anxious about the future, place all your tomorrows in My hands. Bring all your cares and burdens to Me in prayer (1 Peter 5:7). Don’t be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble and care (Matthew 6:34). As you trust in Me and rest in My grace, you will be able to weather whatever storms come your way.
Focus on what I have given you to do today. Be faithful to follow Me and My Word. Place your love for Me and for others at the center of your decisions and actions. Remember that your tomorrows are in My hands and I have promised to care for you and to supply all that you need (Philippians 4:19). My grace will always be sufficient for you to meet the challenges of the day—for today, tomorrow, and the future (2 Corinthians 12:9).
